Current-controlling mechanism for automobile-lights.



w. A. GRAY.

CURRENT CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILE LIGHTS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-8,1916

Patented Jan. 1, 1918.

FIE-LEI- III II "I l l I I 2 '4 I l I I I I II I -5 /7 9 WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

'WILBUR A. GRAY, OF CANONSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

CURRENT-CONTROLLING IMI'ECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILE-LIGHTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 1, 1918.

Application filed September 8, 1916. Serial No. 119,026.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILBUR A. GRAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Canonsburg, in the county of Washington and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Current-Controlling Mechanism for Auto mobile-Lights, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of an improvement in means for controlling the current to the head lights of an automobile, and has in view to provide for use of direct current from a generator, in combination with lamps of low voltage, and to interpose resistance of special construction adapted to provide for a number of variations in the circuit, as more fully hereinafter described.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of the current distribution and utilization.

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the unitary resistance element.

Fig. 3 is an end view of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4: is a vertical sectional View indicated by the line IVIV of Fi 2.

Fig. 5 is a plan view 0 Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, head lights 2, 2, of an automobile, preferably of the Ford automobile, are located in a wellknown manner on the front of the machine and are provided with the current supply wires 3 and 1, leading to the switch terminal 5 of switch 6 at one side, and to the generator 7, at the other side.

The generator, or magneto, of a Ford machine is actuated concurrently with the running of the engine and is inactive when the engine is stopped. The invention has in view the taking of the current directly from the generator, without the use of any storage or other battery. It is therefore essential that when the full current is being supplied at the normal speed of the engine, in running, that the strength of the current be reduced by the use of suitably arranged in terposed resistance and connecting mechanism, whereby the current can be supplied to pending upon whether or not a normal light is desired or a dim light is needed. Also, it

is desirable to so arrange the wiring and switch mechanism as to enable the operator to throw into the lamps the full current, as when the engine and generator are running at a comparatively low speed.

For the purpose of so providing the necessary resistance mechanism I utilize a series of resistance elements 8, which are preferably in the form of cylindrical carbons, such as are light carbons, through any desired number of which the current may be directed, depending upon the mounting of the carbons, the wiring, the switchin device, and also upon the construction 0? the supporting base for the carbons.

The base 9, which is of porcelain, slate,

fiber, concrete, or other. suitable non-conducting material, is preferably made of a single piece, generally rectangularinform and adapted to be mounted in position. on the machine at any convenient location and surrounded with a suitable cover 10, as indicated in Fig. 41.

Base 9 is provided at each opposite side with a series of recesses or sockets 11 adapted to receive the cylindrical carbons 8g whlch rest upon the laterally extended base 12 at each S1d6.' The several carbons are fixedly held in position at each side of the base by means of a non-conducting plate or bar 13, secured to the base between the carbons-by screws 14 or otherwise. Each resistance carbon is thus insulated from each other carbon, and current is established at the terminals of the several carbons in such a manner as to provide circulation of the current therethrough alternately lengthwise, from one carbon to another for any desired number of carbons, or all of the carbons, as needed, depending on the amount of resistance to be interposed.

For the purpose of connecting the upper ends of the carbons in pairs, 2'. e., the opposite carbons with each other, I provide the spring plates or strips 15 of suitable conducting metal, which are secured centrally to the top of base 9, at the middle of each spring bar, by screw 16.' lPhe opposite terminals of said conducting bars bear with considerable resilient force against the terminal ends ofthe carbons and press them downwardly against the supporting base, and against the conducting attaching terminals of base 9.

Each carbon is also provided with an adjusting screw 17 adapted to be set into direct electrical contact with the end of the carbon, and also to provide by its head a binding screw connection for the wire terminal, when desired. By this means each carbon is fixedly held in positive current-es tablishing engagement with the several conducting elements just described.

For the purpose of providing for terminal connections of the several contact wires ll provide at any convenient location, as upon the end of base 9, a series of connecting contact plates A, B, and C respectively, each provided with suitably attached binding post screws 18.

Conductor 19 leads from one side of generator 7 to contact plate B, from which also leads a conductor wire 20 to switch contact I) in range of the contacting terminal of switch 6. As stated, conductor 1 leads from the other side of generator 7 to lamps 2, 2, and conductor 3, to switch terminal 5, so that when switch 6 is thrown across from terminal 5 to terminal 5, direct current is established without the interposition of any resistance.

When it is desired to throw the current through the lamps at normal speed of the generator however, it is necessary to interpose a partial resistance, as by utilizing a limited number of carbons, say four. F or such purpose conductor wire 21 leads from barB to the lower binding post 17 of the first carbon 8 of the series at one side of the base, then upwardly through said carbon and over through bar 15 to the opposite caricon and downwardly therethrough and through contact clip 22 connecting said opposite'carbon with its next adjacent carbon on the samev side, whereby the current is passed upwardly, then through next bar 15 to the carbon on the opposite side, and its contact clip 22.

From said clip by conductor wire 23 at tached to binding post'screw 24 of clip 22 current passes to plate C, and from plate C by conductor 25 to switch terminal 0.

With the wiring and connections as so arranged, when switch 6 is thrown over from terminal 5 to contact 0, current passes from generator 7 through conductor 4, lamps 2, 2, conductor 3, and the switch, to plate C, conductor 23 then through the limited resistance to plate 13, and by conductor 19' to the other side of generator 7.

When it is desired to interpose the full resistance of all of the carbons, switch 6 is thrown over from terminal 5 to contact a of conductor 25 connected to binding screw attachment of plate A, from which leads conductor 26, to the farthermost carbon 8. The current passes up therethrough, through cross bar 15, down through the next adjacent carbon 8 at the opposite side, across through clip 22 to the next carbon on the same side, and then upwardly and across, and so on, until the current has traversed each of the several carbons and connections in series and through conductor 21, plate B and conductor 19 to the generator, the other generator conductor 4 leading through the lamps to switch terminal 5, as already described.

lVhat 1 claim is:

1. A unitary resistance member consisting of an insulating base having carbon supports and recesses, individual carbons therein, resilient contact strips contacting with the ends of said carbons in pairs, alternating conducting strips connecting adjacent carbons of diflerent pairs, and means for providing for connecting said resistance in a circuit. 1

2. A unitary resistance member consisting of a base portion having carbon supports and recesses, individual carbons therein, resilient contact strips mounted on said base and removably contacting with the ends of said carbons in pairs, alternating conductin strips connecting adjacent carbons of di ferent pairs, means for connecting said resistance in a circuit, and a casing inclosing the whole of said device.

3. A unitaryresistance member consisting of a base portion having carbon supports and recesses, individual carbons therein, retaining strips on each side of said base for holding said carbons in said recesses, resilient contact strips mounted on said base and removablycontacting with the ends of said carbons in pairs, alternating conductmg strips connecting adjacent carbons of different pairs, adjustable screw members engaging said carbons for holding them in firm engagement with said resilient contact strips, means for connecting said resistance member in a circuit, and a casing inclosing the whole of said device.

4. A unitary resistance member consisting of a rectangular base portion having carbon supports and recesses arranged on each side, individual carbons therein, retaining strips on each side of saidbase for holding said carbons in said recesses, resilient contact strips detachably and revolubly mounted on the top of said base and removably contacting cuit, and a casing inclosing the Whole of said with the ends of said carbons in pairs, aldevice. 10 ternating conducting strips connecting ad- In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my jacent carbons of different pairs, adjustable signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

5 screw members mounted in said base for WILBUR A. GRAY.

engaging said carbons for holding them in Witnesses: firm engagement with said contact strips, GLENN' H. LERESCHE,

means for connecting said resistance in a cir- C. M. CLARKE. 

